Seanad debates

Wednesday, 2 March 2005

11:00 am

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)

I call for a debate on the practice of telemarketing, particularly in the telecommunications sector. A practice is emerging around the country such that some of the new entrants to the sector are calling consumers at night and in the evening requesting them to change from their incumbent provider, Eircom, to a new service. They are transferring consumers to their services without any written agreement or contract. This presents a particular difficulty for older people, who, in order to get some of the sales people off the telephone, accept whatever offer is being presented to them. Without their signing a contract or receiving any written notification, these older people find themselves receiving bills from the new company.

This is a considerable problem throughout the country. I have had numerous representations on it in recent weeks. In particular, certain free services associated with one's previous provider are not being transferred such that old age pensioners who used to receive bills for €2 or €3 are now receiving bills for €70 and €80. This could be addressed through legislation. Nobody should end up being changed from one service provider to another without first signing a contract and going through the normal procedures we associate with this process.

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